JAZZ 101 - ALL CLASSES SOLD OUT

JAZZ.FM91 is proud to announce the launch of a new learning course entitled, “Jazz 101: The Beginner’s Guide to Jazz.” Designed for jazz fans, this course is an interactive and engaging guide to the icons and innovators. Through lectures, listening, demonstration, and discussion, you’ll learn from JAZZFM.91’s jazz experts and gain a basic understanding of jazz music.

You’ll discover the most important musicians in jazz, with a special focus on Canadian icons. Highlighting classic recordings by jazz legends, you’ll learn about jazz’s illustrious history and develop the skills to become a better listener. You’ll interact with a live jazz group as they perform and answer your questions.

Taking place at JAZZ.FM91 Studios, the 6-week course will begin in mid-May and run through mid-June. After offering Tuesday and Wednesday evening courses, we have added a new Thursday afternoon course that will begin at 1:00pm.

The course will be taught by Mark Micklethwaite, JAZZ.FM91’s Community Engagement and Education Manager. Mark is a musician, educator, and jazz historian who designed this course in collaboration with CEO and President, Ross Porter.

JAZZ.FM91 Donors were offered an exclusive pre-sale opportunity to sign up for the Wednesday class, which sold out immediately. After Tuesday and Thursday classes were added, they sold out completely. We hope to offer this course again in the future. Check the website for updates.

If you have any questions, please contact Mark Micklethwaite at 416-595-0404x229 or mark@jazz.fm.

Details:
Tuesdays, 7-9pm, Dates: May 14, 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18 (SOLD OUT)
Wednesdays, 7-9pm, Dates: May 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19 (SOLD OUT)
Thursdays, 1-3pm, Dates: May 16, 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20 (SOLD OUT)
Location: JAZZ.FM91 Studios, Instructor: Mark Micklethwaite

Learning Objectives:
•    learn who are the most important musicians in jazz and why
•    learn about basic structure and properties of jazz music; instruments, styles
•    understand details about the history and development jazz
•    gain a greater understanding of how musicians improvise and swing
•    develop skills to become a better listener; what to listen for
•    learn how to build a library of classic recordings, including the five most important Canadian recordings


Jazz 101: The Beginner’s Guide to Jazz - Course Outline:

Week 1 – The 10 Most Important jazz musicians and why.
After an overview of the course, we’ll look at the 10 most important jazz musicians and why they are significant. We’ll listen to classic recordings and discuss what makes these musicians unique and innovative.

Week 2 – What to Listen For When You Listen to Jazz
This week we’ll dig a little deeper into the music by dissecting select recordings and discussing what makes jazz intriguing. We’ll also discuss the instruments of the rhythm section and how they lay the foundation for the music.

Week 3 – Telling A Story – The Jazz Vocalists
We put singers in the spotlight and demonstrate how they interpret songs in unique and diverse ways. We’ll explore the vocal repertoire and discuss how vocalists put the swing in jazz.

Week 4 – Jazz Mechanics – How Does Jazz Work?
This week we’ll get “under the hood” and focus on the key elements that come together to make a great performance. We’ll investigate the blues form and how it informs the music. Plus, we’ll explore more instruments used in jazz, including a few unusual instruments.

Week 5 – Jazz In Canada - The Five Most Important Records
Canadian jazz musicians have gained great artistic and commercial success both at home and abroad. We’ll give you some background on the development of jazz in Canada and highlight the five most important Canadian jazz records.

Week 6 – Live Performance / Summary
Our final week will feature a live performance by some of Toronto’s finest musicians. We’ll demonstrate many of the concepts that have been discussed during the course. You’ll have the chance to ask questions and make requests.

We would like to acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.